Gov’t agencies mobilized to aid ‘Ompong’ victims: Go

Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go talks to the local media.

LAOAG CITY, — The government is mobilizing all concerned agencies to make sure the needs of those affected by typhoon “Ompong” are being addressed.

“Makikita niyo naman before dumating ‘yung bagyo, and after dumating ‘yung bagyo, nandirito po ang gobyerno ni Pangulong Duterte at mga kasamahan namin sa gabinete,” Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said in a press briefing here today.

(As you can see, the government of President Rodrigo Duterte as well as his Cabinet Secretaries have been present before and after the typhoon came.)

Go said the President, who flew to this city today, has been monitoring the situation and is giving the necessary directives to the concerned agencies.

“Nagbigay na po ng instructions ang ating Pangulo na tulungan lahat ng biktima at local government,” he said.

(Our President gave instructions to provide aid to all the victims and to the local governments.)
To address Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos’ request for emergency shelter assistance for affected families, Duterte instructed National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada to check on the affected areas to find out what kind of assistance needs to be delivered.

As this developed, Go said the President will visit Benguet Province tomorrow to personally see the condition of those affected by the typhoon.

“Noong nalaman niya maraming nasawi sa Benguet, pupunta kaagad siya doon bukas, lilipad siya doon, to check the situation po,” Go said.

(When he found out that a number of people died in Benguet, he decided he would fly there tomorrow to check the situation.)

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), 38 people died in Benguet, bringing the total number of fatalities nationwide to 54.

Meanwhile, 42 persons remain missing, with the highest number also in Benguet at 37.

Also according to the NDRRMC, the typhoon affected a total of 270,388 persons in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and National Capital Region (NCR).

Of this number, a total of 137,994 persons are in various evacuation centers where their needs are being served by various government agencies. ###